Shift-type SMEFT effects in dileptons at the LHC

We explore the constraints which can be derived on Wilson coefficients in the Standard Model Effective Field Theory from dilepton production, notably including the constraints on operators which do not lead to cross sections growing with energy relative to the Standard Model rate, i.e. shifts. We incorporate essential theory error estimates from higher EFT orders in the analysis in order to provide robust bounds. We find that constraints on four-fermion operator contributions which do grow with energy are not materially weakened by the inclusion of these shifts, and that a constraint on the shifts can also be derived, with a characteristic strength comparable to, and a directionality in parameter space complementary to, those from LEP data. This completes the study of hadronically-quiet dilepton production in the SMEFT, and provides two new constraints which are linearly independent from others arising at the LHC and also rotated in Wilson coefficient space relative to, though not completely independent from, the LEP bounds.

Automated summary

The study focuses on constraints on Wilson coefficients in the Standard Model Effective Field Theory from dilepton production, incorporating theory error estimates from higher EFT orders. Constraints on four-fermion operator contributions and shifts are found to be robust, and a new constraint on shifts is derived, comparable in strength to LEP data. The study provides new constraints linearly independent from those at the LHC and rotated in Wilson coefficient space relative to LEP bounds.